Raghavan panel report remains unimplementedAccused’s police remand extended, classes start todayDharamsala, March 16
States have been ignoring the Raghavan committee recommendations that were accepted by the Supreme Court in 2007. The major recommendation of the committee was that central regulatory bodies should take ragging situation as an important factor in accreditation of education institutions.

Accused students in the Aman Kachroo ragging case being produced by policemen in judicial courts at Dharamsala on Monday.
Photo: Kamaljeet

Govt begins exercise to frame anti-ragging law
Shimla, March 16
The medical fraternity is hopeful that the intervention of the Supreme Court in the Aman Kachru ragging murder case will help stamp out the menace of ragging from institutions of professional education in the state.
The contempt notice issued by the court to the principal and the registrar of Dr
Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, has shaken the medicos and they are
coming out with guarded response to the development.

VC seeks reply from legal institute
Shimla, March 16
Following allegations of mismanagement of funds and overcharging by the Himachal Institute of Legal Studies, vice-chancellor (VC) Prof Sunil Kumar Gupta of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) has sought a reply from the management of the institute within a week’s time failing which action would be taken.

No new industrial units for now
Shimla, March 16
With the Election Commission refusing permission to the state pollution control board for granting “consent to operate” or “consent to establish” to the new industrial units ready for commissioning, these units will have to wait for more than two months to start operations.

CM urged to scrap MoU for cement plant
Sundernagar, March 16
A delegation led by volunteers of the local Mahila Morcha met Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here today and demanded the scrapping of the MoU with Harish Cement Limited for setting up a cement plant near
Sundernagar.
A deputation of the Mahila Morcha and other organisations meets Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal demanding that they do not want a cement plant at Sundernagar on Sunday.
Photo: Mahesh Chander Sharma

EC ties hands of govt on recruitments, grants
Shimla, March 16
The process of regular recruitments through statutory bodies like the state public service commission and the state subordinate selection board can continue while the model code of conduct is in force. However, prior clearance from the Election Commission will be mandatory in case of non-statutory bodies.

Pvt varsity at Una to be named INDUS
Una, March 16
Prof SN Kulkarni, director and CEO of the Mumbai-based Kartha Education Society Group, has said the private university to be set up in Una district will be named as INDUS university. Taking to The Tribune, he said initially the group would set up a campus in an area of about 50 acres that would be further extended by 50 acres.

Parties warned against meetings at public places
Mandi, March 16
The chief electoral officer of the state has warned political parties and their candidates planning to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections against holding election meetings at public places, including highways and the religious places.

Rustic rituals leading to forest fires
Mandi, March 16
In their bid to please the rain god to end the prolonging dry spell that has created drought-like conditions in the state, villagers are resorting to torching dry ‘ghasnis’ (grasslands) that in turn has led to devastating forest fires in various parts of the state.

3 sandalwood smugglers nabbed
Bilaspur, March 16
The police here last night arrested three members of a notorious gang of sandalwood smugglers who are said to have been active here since last more than three years.

Resentment over water shortage
Dharamsala, March 16
Residents of Nirwana area are alleging that the Bamsan power project authorities have stopped the natural water source of their village.

Govt gets EC notice on school board chief’s issue
Shimla, March 16
The chief electoral officer has served a notice on the government following a complaint by the Congress on the issue of including the name of chairman of the state board of school education CL Gupta in the three-member panel set up by the state unit of the BJP for preparing election material for the party.

All set for Nalwari fair
Bilaspur, March 16
All arrangements have been finalised for the seven-day state-level historical and cultural Nalwari fair, the biggest event of the region, which will begin here in the town on the bank of the Satluj tomorrow.

Tension brews between Tibetans, locals
Dharamsala, March 16
Residents of Bir village near the Baijnath area today submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, KK Pant, against Tibetans residing in their area.

Sanitation week from April 1
Shimla, March 16
The government has decided to observe “Swachhta Saptah” from April 1 to 7 to give impetus to the total sanitation campaign in the state.

3 held in rape case
Solan, March 16
The local police has arrested three youth, including an autorickshaw driver, on the charge of raping a minor girl in the Rabon area of Solan town today.

Truck looted at gunpoint
Nurpur, March 16
The local police today lodged a case under Section 395 of the IPC of looting a
truck HP 68-4959 at gunpoint last night.

Dharamsala, March 16
States have been ignoring the Raghavan committee recommendations that were accepted by the Supreme Court in 2007. The major recommendation of the committee was that central regulatory bodies should take ragging situation as an important factor in accreditation of education institutions.

The committee had also recommended anti-ragging cells should have been established at central, state and college level and toll free helpline should be provided for ragging victims. Strong law against ragging with responsibility to prove not guilty lying on the perpetrator was also recommended.

The committee had also suggested that NCERT and SCERT school books should include chapter on ragging and psychological counselling on anti- ragging and human rights should be conducted at higher secondary level. Colleges should organise interactive sessions between juniors and seniors and scattered entry of freshers and senior should be allowed, the committee had recommended.

Though after acceptance by the Supreme Court the recommendations were circulated to all the states, very little was done to implement them. In Himachal hardly any of recommendations is implemented by the educational institutions.

Some of the principals of educational institutions when contacted even feigned ignorance about the Raghavan committee recommendations. The Supreme Court has now issued notice to the Chief Secretary of state to know what the government did to implement the Raghavan committee recommendations after 2007.

The Himachal government in 1992, much before the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court on ragging in 2001, has moved an ordinance against ragging. However, the ordinance never became a law as it was not passed in assembly. The ordinance later lapsed and the situation now is that there is no anti-ragging law in the state.

The parents of deceased student Aman Satya Kachroo have welcomed the move of the Supreme Court. In a message to The Tribune Rajendra Kachroo, father of Aman, has stated that is very encouraging to see that the Additional Solicitor General has taken deep interest in the matter and moved the Supreme Court on his own initiative.

Meanwhile, the police remand of two of the accused students in the case, including Mukul Sharma and Abhinav Verma, was today extended till March 19. The police authorities sought more time to extract more information from the accused in the case.

The classes in Tanda medical college start tomorrow after winter vacation. The students would report in college tomorrow after the unfortunate incident.

The principal of the college when contacted by The Tribune said two close circuit cameras had been installed in each hostel. The first-year students have been divided into groups of five each and they would be accompanied by one senior student. The college authorities have also called meeting of Parent Teachers Association (PTA) on Saturday to discussion possible anti-ragging measures.

ADM Kangra Sandeep Kumar who has been entrusted with magisterial inquiry into the incident has called all concerned, including parents of deceased Aman to dispose before him on March 20.

Shimla, March 16
The medical fraternity is hopeful that the intervention of the Supreme Court in the Aman Kachru ragging murder case will help stamp out the menace of ragging from institutions of professional education in the state.

The contempt notice issued by the court to the principal and the registrar of Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, has shaken the medicos and they are coming out with guarded response to the development.

‘The intervention of the apex court was welcome as it will help enforce the anti-ragging guidelines and directions of the court effectively,’ says president of the Himachal Pradesh Medical Association Ajay Dutta. It is the duty of the administration to provide a ragging-free environment in educational institutions and it was answerable if such unfortunate incidents take place, he added.

Now that the apex court was seized of the matter the truth would come out and those guilty would be brought to book, general secretary of the association Jiwanand Chauhan said. He did not consider it as a simple case of ragging but of a pre-planned attack and those responsible for the murder must be handed out the serest punishment. However, he said that for effective functioning of the anti-ragging committee a suitable law should also be enacted to strengthen its hands. He was against de-recognition of the institution as it would jeopardise the future of over 400 students.

A member of the Medical Council of India (MCI), Ashwini Sood, asserted that college managements were fully responsible and accountable for implementing the Raghvan Committee recommendations. The members of the anti-ragging committee should be selected carefully and not chosen on the basis of personal equations with the principal.

Referring to the move of the government to enact an anti-ragging law he said incorporating a section in the IPC would be a better option as it would ensure uniformity and, moreover, the menace of ragging was countrywide. Meanwhile, the home department and the education department have started the exercise to frame a new anti-ragging law which the government proposes to enact at the earliest by promulgating an ordinance. Besides the lapsed anti-ragging ordinance promulgated by Shanta Kumar government in 1992, the laws enacted by Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and other a few other states are being consulted.

Shimla, March 16
Following allegations of mismanagement of funds and overcharging by the Himachal Institute of Legal Studies, vice-chancellor (VC) Prof Sunil Kumar Gupta of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) has sought a reply from the management of the institute within a week’s time failing which action would be taken.

With parents of students studying in the institute, affiliated to HPU, here being up in arms against the management, the vice-chancellor today asked the institute to file a detailed reply, addressing each and every allegation levelled against them.

For the past time, the parents of the children studying there have alleged that the institute authorities were acting in partisan manner and favouring students close to the ruling BJP. They have alleged that the institute had become a money-minting venture where students were being tortured mentally.

“The authorities have virtually turned a blind eye to the activities of certain students who have been forcefully collecting money in the name of entertainment and even threatening students,” said a parent on condition of anonymity.

The students on being contacted alleged that students close to the ruling BJP and the RSS were being given higher marks as merit was being completely ignored.

The parents of the students enrolled at the institute in their complaint to the vice-chancellor of the HPU have alleged that students were being compelled to pay money of which no proper accounts were being maintained. They point out that what is even worse is that those who refuse to pay are being threatened that they would be failed in the practical.

The parents have alleged that there was no proper account of the Rs 55,000, which had been collected from the students for arranging a party last year. They said despite spending Rs 65,000 on admission of their children, the quality of education was not up to the mark.

The university authorities said it was only after receiving a reply from the institute that they would be in a position to comment on the situation. They, however, admitted that the parents had levelled serious allegations against the management of the institute.

Shimla, March 16
With the Election Commission refusing permission to the state pollution control board for granting “consent to operate” or “consent to establish” to the new industrial units ready for commissioning, these units will have to wait for more than two months to start operations.

The state election department had forwarded the request of the board to the commission in that regard after some investors pleaded that “consent to operate” and “consent to establish” were routine administrative matter and as such there would be no violation of the code of conduct.

Any fully complete unit cannot be made operational until the board grants the mandatory “consent to operate”. Similarly, any proposal for setting up a new industrial project cannot be pursued until the board grants “consent to establish”.

However, their plea did not cut much ice with the commission that rejected the board’s request. The decision was conveyed to the department today.

The entrepreneurs concerned are upset over the development as the delay of over two months will cause monetary losses to them. In all, over 80 cases for grant of consent are pending with the board.

The delay in granting consent to establish units may force some entrepreneurs, who wanted to take advantage of the industrial package, to abandon the projects all together. The delay will prove costly in such cases as the industrial package will expire on March, 2010, and a time lapse of more than two months was significant as the industrial units must come to production before the deadline to avail the incentives under the package.

Sundernagar, March 16
A delegation led by volunteers of the local Mahila Morcha met Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here today and demanded the scrapping of the MoU with Harish Cement Limited for setting up a cement plant near Sundernagar. The CM addressed a huge gathering at the one-day Mahila Morcha convention here.

The delegation told the Chief Minister that a huge population would be affected due to the setting up of the cement plant as the site was located in a thickly populated area. The company officials had started cheating farmers for getting their fertile land for the plant, they alleged.

Members of the delegation alleged the company officials had allured Bangali Ram of the Bharari area through some agents and got an agreement signed from him. When his sons came to know about it, they visited the office of Harish Cement Limited. Officials of the company tried to threaten them, but later they agreed to destroy the agreement, they said.

Joint secretary of the Kearn Taryamber Kisan Kalyan Samiti Lalit Sen, who had earlier received token money from the company after executing an agreement, has also issued a notice to the company to treat his agreement null and void.

The CM reportedly told them that a delegation had met him in Shimla some days ago and he had already asked officials to look into every aspect of the mater. He assured the delegation that none would be allowed to cheat the farmers.

Shimla, March 16
The process of regular recruitments through statutory bodies like the state public service commission and the state subordinate selection board can continue while the model code of conduct is in force. However, prior clearance from the Election Commission will be mandatory in case of non-statutory bodies.

The latest instructions issued by the commission also bar authorities from holding fresh auction of liquor vends. The governments have been advised to make interim arrangements as provided in their respective laws.

Similarly, no land allocation can be made by the government to any entity, individual or enterprise and no MoU or agreement can be signed without prior clearance from the commission.

Proposals for revival of sick public sector units, government takeover of enterprises and other such policy decisions cannot be taken up. Area of operation of any existing project, scheme or programme cannot be extended. Global tenders already floated can be evaluated and finalised in case there are any specified time limits for the purpose. Tenders (other than global) that have been already floated may be evaluated but cannot be finalised without approval from the commission. No fresh tenders will be floated without prior permission from the commission.

Una, March 16
Prof SN Kulkarni, director and CEO of the Mumbai-based Kartha Education Society Group, has said the private university to be set up in Una district will be named as INDUS university. Taking to The Tribune, he said initially the group would set up a campus in an area of about 50 acres that would be further extended by 50 acres.

The state government has issued a letter of intent to the group to set a university in the district of Himachal Pradesh.

He said this group was already active in Dubai and rest of the UAE where it runs collaborative programmes with leading universities from the UK and the USA, including the Universities of London, Wales and Bolton. He said university at Una would introduce engineering, energy, medical, dental, pharmacy, mass communication, biotechnology and management faculties to students. He said 25 per cent seats would be reserved for students of the district while another 25 per cent seats would be reserved for Una and the surrounding areas of Punjab also.

Kulkarni said search for land was going on and site would be selected by the end of April and academic session with full-fledged building would start on September 5. He said Una would be made an educational hub.

Mandi, March 16
The chief electoral officer of the state has warned political parties and their candidates planning to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections against holding election meetings at public places, including highways and the religious places.

Directions have been issued to the district electoral officers-cum-deputy commissioners to enforce strict compliance with the model code of conduct in the state.

Presiding over a meeting of political parties, including the Congress, the BJP, the CPM, the CPI and the BSP, here today, Mandi DC Onkar Sharma asked them to observe the election code of conduct so as to ensure “free and fair elections in the state” on May 13.

He said the code of conduct did not allow holding of meetings and rallies at public and religious places. Political parties and their candidates could not put posters, hoardings and other such material along the highways or on private premises without taking prior permission, he added.

Prior permission of the administration would be required for using loudspeakers for rallies or taking out processions for campaigning. The electoral officer said party candidate could not use more than three vehicles for campaigning at one time. All advertising material, posters etc got printed by the candidates or parties must carry the address of its publishers, he added.

Carrying of firearms and other things that could be misused by anti-social elements would also not be allowed during campaigns. Burning or carrying effigies of rival parties or candidates would also not be allowed, he said.

Mandi, March 16
In their bid to please the rain god to end the prolonging dry spell that has created drought-like conditions in the state, villagers are resorting to torching dry ‘ghasnis’ (grasslands) that in turn has led to devastating forest fires in various parts of the state.

Over 4 hectares of the forest area in deodar-rich Piuna in the Panarsa forest range has been affected by such fires so far. Several forest areas and ‘ghasnis’ are on fire in Kungu Nali, Tharoch and Khaddar in the Chopal forest division.

Villagers have been torching “ghasnis” believing that the “smoke emerging from such fires will create conditions
conducive to rain”.

There are reports of fires in grasslands in Mandir Ki Dhar in Ani subdivision and Khokan wildlife areas in Kullu district. Over 80 fire incidents, affecting 773 hectares, were reported from Karsog forest division in Mandi district last year.

The ill-equipped forest department, which remains understaffed, generally finds it difficult to control fires.

Sources said forest fires had destroyed apple orchards near Kutara in Rohru and the Shantha area in Chopal.

As there are no signs of any let-up in the dry spell in the state, villagers are resorting to sacrificial ‘hawans’ for invoking local deities. The dry conditions have created “mid-April like dry conditions” in the lower and middle belts of the state. “Dry pine needles have started covering the forest floor,” forest officials said.

Over 1,500 incidents of forest fires were reported last year.

DFOs in the fire-affected areas claimed the ground fires affecting ‘ghasnis’ and private land and forests areas were
being checked on day-to-day basis. “Teams have been dispatched to fire-hit areas and fires have been controlled in many cases,” they added.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Vinay Tandon said, “We have geared up the field staff to tackle forest fires. We are also undertaking controlled burning to remove dry pine needles.”

Bilaspur, March 16
The police here last night arrested three members of a notorious gang of sandalwood smugglers who are said to have been active here since last more than three years.

Superintendent of Police Kuldip Sharma said a vigilant head constable Madan Lal of Nagar chowki on his routine patrolling got suspicious when he spotted some fresh chandan leaves lying on the roadside outside the Forest Department ‘Chandan Van” in the town here.

Madan got extra cautious when he suddenly found a car reaching the spot and failing to stop even on his signal and he reacted quickly to cripple the driver by throwing a boulder on the car, which resulted the driver getting confused, resulting in stoppage of the car as it hit the hill side.

Madan dragged the driver out of the vehicle, an Esteem car No. MH-2J-6018, and found eight logs of freshly cut sandalwood loaded in it and he immediately informed Kuldip about it and arrested the driver, Vigyan Singh, son of Bovdesh Kumar, Bhutia, Kanavaran, Unnao in UP.

Later one of the suspect, Shafiq Ahmed, son of Rashid Ahmed of Sikana police station, Sadar Kannauj, UP, was nabbed when he attempted to escape from the police on the national highway and fired a bullet from his desi katta. Another accomplice Nadim, son of Salim, also of the same place, was also arrested at the same spot while two other accomplices succeeded in getting away.

Kuldip told mediapersons at Sadar police station here that the police has impounded the car and recovered eight logs from its dicky while some other freshly cut logs were also recovered. The police has also recovered a katta from Shafiq, along with its six live cartridges.

Dharamsala, March 16
Residents of Nirwana area are alleging that the Bamsan power project authorities have stopped the natural water source of their village.

The residents in a memorandum submitted to the district administration have alleged that water in a khull (a natural water sources where water percolates from mountains) coming to their village has dried up. Most of the village was dependent on the khull for drinking water.

They have submitted complaint to the power project authorities many times. However, the authorities have not yielded. They are allegedly stopping the water in the khull that has bereft them of their natural sources, the villagers alleged.

The villagers threatened to start an agitation in case the water supply was not restored.

Shimla, March 16
The chief electoral officer has served a notice on the government following a complaint by the Congress on the issue of including the name of chairman of the state board of school education CL Gupta in the three-member panel set up by the state unit of the BJP for preparing election material for the party.

The government has been given one week to explain the position as Gupta holds a constitutional post and he cannot take active part in the election campaign.

The Congress had also submitted press clippings of the statement given by Gupta in the media that he had been appointed adviser by the election campaign committee of the BJP. The party had demanded his removal from the post in view of the alleged blatant violation of the code of conduct.

Bilaspur, March 16
All arrangements have been finalised for the seven-day state-level historical and cultural Nalwari fair, the biggest event of the region, which will begin here in the town on the bank of the Satluj tomorrow.

Deputy Commissioner JS Rana, who is also chairman of the Mela Management Committee, said BK Agrawal, secretary, Department of Language and Culture, would inaugurate the fair after he would lead a procession through the town here before performing the puja of a bullock.

He said Ashwani Kaoor, divisional commissioner, Mandi, Central Zone, would be the chief guest on the concluding evening on March 23.

Rana said exhibitions depicting development and progress of various departments would also be held.

Dharamsala, March 16
Residents of Bir village near the Baijnath area today submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, KK Pant, against Tibetans residing in their area.

The residents alleged that the police was going soft against Tibetans. The locals in the Bir area had entered into fight with Tibetans who are residing in monasteries in their area. The locals alleged that Tibetans had started fight with them. Despite that the locals have been arrested while none of Tibetans has been
arrested as yet.

Three Tibetans, who were admitted in Tanda Medical College after fight, were actively involved in the fight,
they said.

Many unregistered Tibetans were residing in the area and were involved in illegal activities, they alleged.

The residents demanded inquiry into the incident.

Atul Fulzele, SP, Kangra, when contacted, said locals had named a Tibetan youth Hongkong as main accused in the incident. A case has been registered against him.

Leadership of Tibetans has been asked to produce Hongkong. The problem with the police is that nobody identifies the accused Tibetan Hongkong, the SP said.

Shimla, March 16
The government has decided to observe “Swachhta Saptah” from April 1 to 7 to give impetus to the total sanitation campaign in the state.

Presiding over a meeting of officers of different departments in that regard here today, secretary, rural development, Srikant Baldi said a concerted awareness drive would be carried out in the state during the week in association with the departments of irrigation and public health, education and social justice and empowerment. Each day of the week would have a separate theme for undertaking different activities at the district and block levels, he added.

Solan, March 16
The local police has arrested three youth, including an autorickshaw driver, on the charge of raping a minor girl in the Rabon area of Solan town today.

According to the police, the victim, aged 15, was enticed by one of the accused youth while she was on her way to fetch water from a natural source near Shamti and was taken to the house of his maternal uncle where the three committed the misdeed last evening. The girl hails from Jharkhand.

Preliminary investigations made by the police revealed that one of the accused Karan Kumar, along with his two accomplices Manoj Kumar and Rupinder, accosted the girl at Shamti and lured her to go to his uncle’s house.

The girl was then taken to Rabon in an autorickshaw owned by Manoj. Karan later committed the crime.

Acting swiftly, the police on receiving the complaint arrested the three this morning. A case under Section 376 of the IPC has been registered.

Nurpur, March 16
The local police today lodged a case under Section 395 of the IPC of looting a
truck HP 68-4959 at gunpoint last night.

According to DSP Hari Ram, cleaner of the truck, Tilak Raj, stated in the police complaint that he was sitting in the truck for awaiting its driver Raj Kumar who had left for taking meal in a roadside dhaba near Bhadroya on the Kandwal-Lodhwan link road.

Suddenly an Esteem car stopped near the truck and some unidentified occupants came out of the vehicle. One of them took out his revolver and put on his head and forcibly took him in the car. One of them drove the truck and fled.

The car occupants tied his hands and closed his mouth with a cloth and left him in the roadside bushes. Before fleeing they took his mobile and Rs 530 from his pocket.

The robbed truck owner has been identified as Sham Lal, son of Darshan Singh of Pathankot. The police has started investigations.